Plumpton: Here I Come.

I am not at all grumpy today because I am off to wonderful Plumpton racecourse.

Plumpton has always been one of my favorite tracks.

Firstly, it is easy to get to. 40 minutes from Victoria, you arrive at a little platform at the bottom end of the course. After that, it is a 5 minute stroll up the side of the course to the quaint old stand, where the great and the good mingle with their betters, in a good spirit induced by decent grub and flowing alcohol.

From the stand, every race can be watched in full with the naked eye. Plumpton has no level surfaces. It is uphill, then downhill, with tight bends. The course is only a mile round, so there is a welcome feeling of being Cozy, probably helped by all the warming drinks that are consumed during a 6 race schedule.

I shall be eating in the large tent that is erected for busier meetings. Very reasonable prices for both eats and wine leave some money for a bit of casual "punting".

If you haven't been to Plumpton, I would urge you to go. It isn't Royal Ascot and that is all to the good. Intimate and friendly, it is a community course that welcomes everyone. It deserves the support it gets, as do all the small course that preserve horse racing as a local entertainment throughout the UK.

As I am going racing, it's time for my tips.

I fancy the "jolly" in each of the first three races, with The Green Ogre, Chris Pea Green and King Edmund racing certainties ( which probably means they have little chance!).

My bet of the day, however, is at Ffos Las in Wales, where Cape Caster will run too sweetly for the other nags.

Remember, don't bet more than you can afford. Keep at least a silver threepenny for your Christmas Pud!